Land Acknowledgment and Blessing
Rev. Emilie Unterweger
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The land upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape, called “Lenapehoking.” The Lenape People lived in harmony with one another upon this territory for thousands of years. During the colonial era and early federal period, many were removed west and north, but some also remain among the continuing historical tribal communities of the region: The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation; the Ramapough Lenape Nation; and the Powhatan Renape Nation, The Nanticoke of Millsboro Delaware, and the Lenape of Cheswold Delaware. We acknowledge the Lenni-Lenape as the original people of this land and their continuing relationship with their territory. In our acknowledgment of the continued presence of Lenape people in their homeland, we affirm the aspiration of the great Lenape Chief Tamanend, that there be harmony between the indigenous people of this land and the descendants of the immigrants to this land, “as long as the rivers and creeks flow, and the sun, moon, and stars shine.
BLESSING
Lisa, Barry:
May you feel the grounding, support and bounty of the Earth, that your needs will always be met.
May the blessing of Water be upon you, that you may each live in emotional truth and hold space for one another’s emotional life.
May the spirits of Wind bless you with easy communication, flexible thinking and playfulness.
May the spirits of Light forever offer your union warmth, awe and hope through times of joy and times of sadness and strife.
May the Plant spirits bless you with medicine to heal all ailments and food to nourish and strengthen you in body, mind and spirit.
May you be blessed with the companionship and wisdom of the Animal spirits.
And may your Ancestors guide you with their wisdom and far-seeing.
May the heavens above bless you with inspiration and may you inspire one another always.
May you receive each day the blessings of this life in your hearts and may your share these in gratitude with others beyond your union.
May this grace extend beyond you, Lisa and Barry, to your families united by this ceremony and to all those your call “loved one” and “friend”.
May we each receive these gifts in gratitude and just as you, Barry and Lisa, have been a blessing to your communities, may all of us carry this grace into each of ours.
May the gifts of Water, Earth, Plant and Animal; Wind, Light and Ancestors be acknowledged and may we offer these our gratitude, respect and care as the Lenape people did before us.
May the very land beneath our feet and air we breathe together, may these too be blessed by the love celebrated here today.
Divine Creator, Great One, Mother, Father, You of Many Names - Please shower Your blessings and guidance upon Barry Sutton and Lisa Weinert. Please bless all who bear witness to this union today with Your grace. Ashe, Aho, Amen, Amin, and So It Is.
POEM
On Marriage by Khalil Gibran
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.
